# Date: 1921-07-26

In early July 1924, Lenin had a conversation with A. A. Korostelov. The latter recounts the substance of what Lenin said to him (see "Trud" of February 27, 1922):

We have introduced the NEP, but we know very little how it will develop and what obstacles stand in its way. We need maximum assurance of the correct development of the new economic policy. We have inertia in our apparatus, bureaucratism, unwieldiness. A good thing can be ruined. Here you are, a member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Workers' and Peasants' Inspection, which means you're a member of the government, access to all factories and plants is open to you; you are a worker and, consequently, it will be easier for you than for the bureaucrats of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspection to approach the workers.

Assemble a small group of workers from the factories and a few honest specialists; take several enterprises, inspect them—how they are supplied with fuel, foodstuffs, money; find out who and what is hindering their work, bring them to account, and try, using your authority, to render assistance and support to the enterprises and workers.

If we manage to eliminate the obstacles that stand in the way of the new economic policy, this will be very indicative, especially here in Moscow, and will have great political and, further, economic significance. One must exert all one's strength so that there are as few failures as possible; one must not lose heart over failures, but persistently and patiently carry out the work again and again. It is much harder to work in Moscow than in the provinces—more bureaucratism and spoiled "top-level" people...

As a result of this conversation, shortly thereafter under the People's Commissariat of Workers' and Peasants' Inspection, under the direction of A. A. Korostelov and comprising representatives of the Presidium of the Moscow Soviet and the Moscow Provincial Trade Union Council, the "Commission for Assistance to Economic Organs" ("Komsokhor") was organized.

The tasks of this commission were as follows: a) rendering the speediest assistance in relations between enterprises and other economic organs and institutions; b) verification of the urgency of fulfilling their demands, requests, and elimination of unnecessary red tape; c) rendering assistance in obtaining from the corresponding organs in sufficient quantity and in a timely manner the necessary qualified labor force, materials, monetary means, transport, natural goods funds, etc.; d) certification of the enterprise's requests and demands and support for them in the corresponding organs; e) freeing enterprises from various special and general commissions and conferences that burden them, with the exception of those absolutely necessary in the direct interests of the enterprise; f) maximum reduction in the issuance of all kinds of references and information to institutions, as well as rendering assistance in the simplification and facilitation of the accounting and record-keeping apparatus of enterprises; g) rendering assistance in supplying workers with foodstuffs, uniforms, housing, collective procurement of products and their delivery to locations; h) absolute prevention of audits and inspections by various departments and organizations not coordinated with Komsokhor; i) assistance in organizing various repair workshops for the purpose of servicing the direct needs of workers; j) assistance in improving sanitary-hygienic conditions of workshops as well as workers' housing; best possible organization of medical assistance; k) rendering assistance to cultural-educational work; l) Komsokhor registers cases of the most striking economic and organizational success and publishes them for general information; m) enters into direct close contact with the worker masses, drawing them into the circle of the above-stated tasks..." (Order of the People's Commissariat of Workers' and Peasants' Inspection No. 88 of July 3, 1921)

14.

* THREE LETTERS TO A. A. KOROSTELOV CONCERNING THE COMMISSION FOR ASSISTANCE TO ECONOMIC ORGANS.

I.

To the Member of the Collegium of the [Workers'] and [Peasants'] Insp[ection], Comrade Korostelov*).

July 13, [1921]

Comrade Korostelov!

Why have you not yet set this matter in motion, the matter we discussed? L. B. Kamenev says you postponed your report in the Presidium of the Moscow Soviet.

What is causing the delay?

Are there some special reasons for it? Or have you ch[anged] your mind? Or have you not agreed with someone?

I very much ask you to answer me these questions as quickly as possible and, if necessary, to speak again by telephone. The matter is of extreme importance and extreme urgency.

With communist greetings, Lenin.

II*).

[July 15, 1921]

Comrade Korostelov.

Of course, the whole matter is assistance to enterprises. You are right.

We will begin transferring individual enterprises to collective supply right away. Both L. B. Kamenev and I are for this. We will pass through the Council of Labor and Defense the list which you will give, in agreement with the Moscow Presidium (or against the Moscow workers if they become stubborn).

Please answer me by messenger.

With communist greetings, Lenin.

III*).

[July 26, 1921]

Comrade Korostelov!

The work of your commission is exceptionally important, responsible, and difficult.

One must exert all one's strength so that you have as few failures as possible; and not lose heart because of failures, but persistently and patiently continue the work again and again. It is much harder to work in Moscow than in the provinces—more bureaucratism, more corrupted and spoiled "top-level" people, etc.

But for that reason, work in Moscow will have tremendous indicative and political significance.

In my opinion, your c[ommissi]on ought to try to coordinate its work with the "Directive of the Council of Labor and Defense."

The main thing is not to scatter your efforts, but rather to take a few institutions, small tasks, set modest goals for yourselves initially. But carry them out persistently, not forgetting what has been started, not abandoning it halfway, but seeing it through to completion.

Gradually but necessarily attract non-party workers from among those known to be honest and respected in each district. Do not spare time and effort in seeking them out, in becoming acquainted with them.

Gradually and carefully introduce them into the work, trying to find for each one an occupation that is fully suitable, corresponding to his abilities.

The main thing is to accustom the workers and population to the commission in the sense that they see assistance from it; the main thing is to win the confidence of the masses, of non-party workers, of rank-and-file workers, of rank-and-file citizens.

It will be difficult for you precisely, as chairman of the c[ommissio]n and as a man from the center, a member of the collegium of the unpopular Workers' and Peasants' Inspection. But therein lies the whole essence.

One must in every way and in all possible respects show and achieve in practice assistance, even if in a small measure, but real assistance. Only relying on this can one move further.

I ask you to write me or, if you do not like writing, to call by telephone—you can call from my office, more calmly, so that we can exchange thoughts about the work of your c[ommissi]on.

Show this letter to other members of the c[ommissio]n if you find this timely.

With communist greetings, Lenin.

July 26.

P.S. The basic task of the c[ommissio]n: to improve the economy, to improve the state of affairs, to achieve real personal responsibility. One ought to take for this purpose a few more institutions as well: a cafeteria, a bathhouse, a laundry, a dormitory, etc.

*) A. A. Korostelov (b. 1887)—a worker, a metalworker lathe operator. In 1921 he was a member of the collegium of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspection. From 1922 onwards—chairman of the Central Committee of the union of education workers. Member of the Central Control Commission.

2) A. A. Korostelov was unable to deliver his report at the originally scheduled time, as it coincided with the beginning of the provincial congress of soviets, and the report was postponed until the end of the congress's work. It took place on July 15.

3) The second letter was written by Lenin in response to a letter from A. A. Korostelov of July 15, in which, answering Lenin's letter of July 13, he set forth the reasons for the failure to organize the "Commission for Assistance to Economic Organs" in a timely manner. Lenin's letter responded to two passages from Comrade Korostelov's letter:

1) A. A. Korostelov wrote: "...where then should one shift the center of gravity of the planned work of the commission for assistance to economic organs: toward assistance to enterprises in the new economic situation or toward assistance in improving the workers' conditions? I consider that the first task is the main, principal one for our commission, and the second is merely auxiliary, closely dependent on the resolution of the first." In the margin of the letter opposite the words underlined here, Lenin wrote: "Precisely!", "Of course."

2) A. A. Korostelov wrote: "...As you will remember, the conversation was about rendering assistance to economic enterprises under the new, changed economic policy: collective supply of enterprises, greater economic initiative, etc. Meanwhile, shortly afterward I learned that not a single enterprise in Moscow was included in the list for collective supply. Only a few days ago Comrade Avanesov informed me that the Council of Labor and Defense or the Council of People's Commissars (I cannot say for certain) adopted a resolution to include enterprises in Moscow and Petrograd in collective supply, but only from August 1... Whether even from August 1 in Moscow even several enterprises will begin on the basis of collective supply—there is no certainty whatsoever."

4) Seven enterprises were selected: the metal plants formerly of Il'in, Duke, Dynamo, the former Prokhirov Factory, the Zhemochkin leather plant, and two printing plants: the former Kushnarev and Mamontov.

5) This letter was a response to the second letter from A. A. Korostelov—of July 21, 1921, in which he set forth the difficulties that had to be overcome in organizing the "Commission for Assistance to Economic Organs."

This letter was published in No. 1 of "Bolshevik" for 1924.

6) "Directive of the Council of Labor and Defense to Local Soviet Institutions"—written by V. P. Lenin in May 1921 and was issued as a separate pamphlet and distributed to provinces, counties, and regions as a detailed guide for local workers (see Collected Works, vol. XVIII, pt. 1, pp. 235–255).